2 Corinthians 12 5

2 Corinthians 12:5 kjv

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:5 nkjv

Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:5 niv

I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:5 esv

On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses ?

2 Corinthians 12:5 nlt

That experience is worth boasting about, but I'm not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12 verses

2 Corinthians 12 5 Meaning

In this verse, Paul articulates his distinctive approach to boasting. He declares his willingness to boast about a profound, divinely-granted spiritual experience, referring to it indirectly as pertaining to "such a one" (a veiled reference to himself, previously detailed in verses 2-4). However, he vehemently refuses to boast about any personal accomplishments or strengths that might be attributed to himself. His sole exception to this refusal is that he will boast, and only boast, about his weaknesses. This paradoxical stance foreshadows his discussion of his "thorn in the flesh" and establishes a core principle: God's power is revealed and perfected through human frailty, not human strength.

2 Corinthians 12 5 Context

Chapter 12 continues Paul's "foolish" boasting from chapter 11, where he defends his apostolic ministry against false apostles who sought to discredit him and elevate themselves through worldly credentials and outward displays of power. In the verses immediately preceding 2 Cor 12:5 (vv. 1-4), Paul recounts being caught up to the "third heaven" and hearing inexpressible things. He deliberately describes this extraordinary experience in the third person ("I know a man in Christ") to prevent any perception of self-exaltation, thus making the spiritual experience a testament to God's grace, not his personal merit.

Historically, in the Greco-Roman world and among some Jewish factions, boasting was a common practice to establish status, authority, and superiority in rhetoric and influence. Individuals would vaunt their accomplishments, lineage, wisdom, or rhetorical skills. Paul's rhetorical strategy in 2 Corinthians is a polemic against this prevailing cultural norm and against the self-promoting "super-apostles" in Corinth. He deliberately subverts conventional boasting, arguing that true divine power is not found in human strength, eloquence, or impressive outward appearances, but paradoxically, in weakness, humility, and suffering endured for Christ. This chapter sets the stage for the revelation of Paul's "thorn in the flesh," illustrating how God's grace operates powerfully through his servant's limitations.

2 Corinthians 12 5 Word analysis

• On behalf of (ἐπὲρ - hyper)
  • This Greek preposition can mean "on behalf of," "concerning," or "for the sake of." Here, it signifies speaking about someone or concerning their experience. Paul distinguishes between the experience itself and the personal boast, emphasizing the objectivity of the event as from God.
• such a one (τοιούτου - toioutou)
  • This indirect, third-person reference ("such a person") is a crucial rhetorical device. Having just described the incredible rapture experience (vv. 2-4) using "a man in Christ," Paul consciously avoids using "I" directly. This subtle distancing technique is a hallmark of his humility, ensuring that the glory of the experience points unequivocally to God's sovereign act and not to Paul's individual spiritual prowess or merit. It reinforces the divine initiative in the revelation.
• I will boast (καυχήσομαι - kauchēsomai)
  • Future tense. The verb "boast" (καυχάομαι - kauchaomai) is significant throughout 2 Corinthians and Paul's letters. While in secular Greek it often carried negative connotations of arrogance, Paul reconfigures its meaning. Here, when connected to "such a one," it's about acknowledging a divinely initiated event. However, his subsequent direct negation "on my own behalf I will not boast" reclaims the negative connotation for self-promotion and reserves a positive meaning only for boasting in the Lord or in weakness.
• but (δὲ - de)
  • A mild adversative conjunction, "but" or "and." It signals a contrast, smoothly transitioning to Paul's refusal to boast on his own terms.
• on my own behalf (ἐμαυτοῦ - emautou)
  • The emphatic reflexive pronoun "my own self" or "myself." This phrase draws a sharp distinction, directly contrasting with "such a one." Paul explicitly states that he as an individual, with his personal attributes and achievements, will not be the subject of his boasting. This underscores his radical self-abnegation regarding worldly measures of success.
• I will not boast (οὐ καυχήσομαι - ou kauchēsomai)
  • The strong negative "not" (οὐ) combined with the future tense of "boast" forms a definitive refusal. Paul firmly rejects any form of self-exaltation based on personal attributes, gifts, or spiritual achievements. This denial sets the stage for his unique form of boasting.
• —except (πλὴν - plēn)
  • This adverb functions as a strong exception, "but only," "nevertheless." It introduces an emphatic qualification to his previous statement, signaling a profound turn in his argument. What follows is the single, crucial area where he will boast.
• of my weaknesses (ἐν ταῖς ἀσθενείαις - en tais astheneiais)
  • ἀσθενείαις (astheneiais): "weaknesses," "infirmities," "sicknesses," "frailties," "disabilities." This plural noun, in the dative case with "in" (ἐν), signifies the specific sphere or subject of Paul's unique boasting. It encompasses a broad range of human limitations: physical ailments (like his "thorn in the flesh" in v.7), emotional struggles, persecutions, lack of rhetorical flair (as perceived by some), and general disadvantages. Paul doesn't boast about his weaknesses as achievements but in them as the means through which God's strength is revealed and made perfect. This directly contradicts worldly values, which typically shame and hide weaknesses. It points to a theology where human frailty becomes a conduit for divine power.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "On behalf of such a one I will boast": This phrase utilizes a rhetorical device known as enallage or an indirect reference. Paul consciously speaks in the third person about the man caught up to heaven, effectively depersonalizing the extraordinary spiritual vision. This avoids any hint of personal pride while affirming the divine reality of the revelation. It presents the experience as God's act, rather than Paul's achievement, thereby attributing glory solely to the divine giver.
• "but on my own behalf I will not boast": This creates a stark and intentional contrast. Paul unequivocally states his refusal to take personal credit or glory for any perceived success, strength, or spiritual gift associated with himself. This repudiation of self-exaltation directly confronts the self-promoting rhetoric common in his cultural context and characteristic of the false apostles challenging him in Corinth. It underlines his deep conviction that any efficacy in ministry stems from God alone, not the minister's independent capacities.
• "—except of my weaknesses": This pivotal phrase introduces Paul's profound and counter-cultural theological paradox. He specifies that the only aspect of "self" about which he will boast are his weaknesses. This isn't morbid self-pity or mere humility but a radical redefinition of strength and effectiveness in Christian ministry. Paul understands his limitations, sufferings, and human frailties not as detriments to be concealed, but as divinely ordained vehicles. Through these weaknesses, God's immeasurable power is most clearly manifested and perfected, rendering the gospel testimony undeniable and unmistakably divine (as explained in 2 Cor 12:9-10). It subverts all human standards of excellence, revealing true spiritual power through divine reliance in the face of human inadequacy.

2 Corinthians 12 5 Bonus section

Paul's methodology of "boasting in weakness" stands as a theological strategy to distinguish authentic Christian leadership and ministry from that of the "super-apostles" who valued outward charisma, rhetorical skill, and self-promotion. While his opponents presented a gospel message that glorified human potential and earthly success, Paul showcased a crucified Messiah and a ministry that embraced suffering and dependency, thereby emphasizing God's grace as entirely unearned and powerfully displayed in fragile vessels. This profound concept challenges believers to assess spiritual authority not by worldly metrics of influence, health, wealth, or perceived invulnerability, but by genuine humility and transparent reliance on God's sustaining grace amidst personal limitations. It serves as an ongoing call to discern true spiritual power that aligns with Christ's pattern of emptying himself.

2 Corinthians 12 5 Commentary

2 Corinthians 12:5 captures the profound tension Paul skillfully navigates: needing to assert his legitimate apostolic authority (supported by undeniable spiritual experiences) without falling into the trap of self-exaltation, a practice common among his rivals in Corinth. By speaking of his heavenly vision in the third person, he validates the divine source and truth of the experience while simultaneously deflecting any personal glory. His subsequent, explicit refusal to boast "on my own behalf" draws a clear line between divinely-granted spiritual reality and human performance or perceived strengths.

The audacious "except of my weaknesses" marks the climax of this verse and a core tenet of Pauline theology. It’s not simply an act of humility; it's a profound declaration that flips worldly values on their head. Paul doesn't find merit in being weak, but he boasts in how God's omnipotence powerfully operates through his weaknesses. This is not about celebrating human inadequacy for its own sake, but recognizing that human frailty serves as the ideal canvas upon which the exceeding greatness of God's power is displayed. This understanding prepares the Corinthians, and us, for the "thorn in the flesh" in the subsequent verses and Jesus' clarifying words in verse 9: "My power is made perfect in weakness." Ultimately, Paul's boast in weakness strips humanity of any pretense of self-sufficiency, redirecting all glory to Christ, whose strength becomes most evident when our own falters. This encourages believers to embrace dependence on God, understanding that true spiritual strength is often found in vulnerable surrender, not in self-reliant power.